Vietnam's export-import activities are entering a transformative phase as various regions and companies actively diversify their markets and adapt to international trade demands. A notable case is the thriving tea export sector from Tuyên Quang province, which has expanded its reach beyond the Middle East to include markets in Europe, North America, and Asia.
According to Mr. Ngô Đức Tú, Director of Sông Lô Tea Joint Stock Company, the firm plans to export over 4,700 tons of green and black tea varieties by the end of 2024 with anticipated revenue nearing $8 million—more than 70% over its initial target. This achievement is bolstered by the company's existing relationships with traditional customers across the Middle East, India, Pakistan, and others from Russia and the Netherlands. The company is also proactively exploring new markets within ASEAN and Taiwan (China) and has secured crop area codes, facilitating smoother export operations.
Simultaneously, the wooden products sector is experiencing growth. Woodsland Tuyên Quang Joint Stock Company, having operated three production factories for interior and exterior wooden goods for nearly ten years, reports stable exports to the American and European markets. The company anticipates revenue of 1.6 trillion VND for 2024, reflecting a 23% increase from 2023, contributing over 60 billion VND to the state budget. According to Mr. Lê Quang Khánh, the company's CEO, stringent new import regulations from European markets, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), effective from October 2023, demand responsible production practices and adaptation to stringent quality specifications. The company is committed to continuous improvements and flexibility to address client demands, boasting orders booked through the end of 2025, with aspirations to reach 2 trillion VND revenue.
Another enterprise, Tuyên Quang Mechanical Joint Stock Company, has witnessed revenue growth of 20% compared to 2023 by diversifying their export markets, laying the groundwork for projected revenues of 90 billion VND by 2025. Mr. Trần Trọng Thủy, the Deputy Director, noted the necessity of adapting product offerings to varying tastes from international clients, especially as the supply chain becomes more interlinked with larger economies like the U.S. and Europe.
Quality enhancement is becoming integral to the export strategy of local companies, highlighting the focus on constantly improving product standards. Viet Star Tuyên Quang Limited Company is geared toward these improvements, with its three factories and 36 purchasing points for raw materials, emphasizing high-quality production to secure stable order flows. Mrs. Cao Cẩm Tú, the Deputy Director, states, "Continuous upgrades to product quality are not just our business strategy but also the foundation for achieving stable order fulfillment."
Investments have been made to automate production lines at the plywood plant, costing over 100 billion VND, aligning with the goal of enhancing efficiency and lowering production costs for both domestic and international markets.
The company Erex Sakura Tuyên Quang has recently launched its biomass pellet fuel factory at Long Bình An Industrial Zone, with the potential to produce 150,000 tons of high-quality pellets annually. Mr. Honna Hitoshi, President and CEO, mentioned the importance of this project as part of advancing green production methodologies across multiple industries.
The Quang Ninh province is actively improving its logistics and border trade relations with neighboring Guangxi Province, China, enhancing its strategic position as "the gateway connecting Vietnam-ASEAN with China." The local government has reported stable developments with the Choang Autonomous Region on trade cooperation initiatives and aims to fortify border market connections.
Significant border infrastructure enhancements such as the Móng Cái-Dong Hung international border post are underway, which enable smoother trade exchanges. The total import-export turnover between Quang Ninh and Guangxi has grown, achieving 4.42 billion USD by 2024, with expectations to increase trade to more than 600 million USD by the end of the year.
Mr. Nguyễn Văn Dương, Deputy Head of Móng Cái Customs Department, highlighted the importance of continuous exchanges with Dong Hung Customs to facilitate trade and combat illegal trading operations. The number of enterprises completing customs procedures has risen to 1,495 by 2024, achieving remarkable growth through effective collaboration.
Looking forward, local authorities, such as the Quang Ninh Department of Industry and Trade, plan to strengthen comprehensive partnerships with Guangxi and develop more favorable conditions to attract investments and boost production and exports. Mr. Lê Hồng Giang, Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Industry and Trade, emphasized the importance of cooperation, highlighting the objective to promote trade efficiency, creating sustainable business conditions for firms on both sides of the border.
Overall, Vietnam's proactive measures to broaden its export markets and improve trade relations strongly point toward achieving ambitious economic goals for 2025. The government and local enterprises’ adaptive strategies speak volumes about the resilience and potential of Vietnam's economic fabric.